Two thoughts have emerged on the subject of fellowship and they are Vertical Relationships and Horizontal Relationships.

Vertical relationships focus on our fellowship with God with the central focus being on our walk with God as Father and our obedience to Him. Horizontal relationships however, focus on our fellowship with one another and how we are to have and build relationships with one another that are centered on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Greek word for “FELLOWSHIP” is (COIN OH NIA), spelled; KOINONIA, which means communion or fellowship. This word defines the concept of the importance of “sharing in the lives of one another as believers in Christ.” In a more practical since, fellowship is based on getting to know someone and to be known by that person as we worship Christ. It is an intimate sharing of oneself with another in a way that will bring glory to God.

This is true as well with our Heavenly Father, once we come into the kingdom of God we must take time to get to know God. However, we cannot get to know God without having fellowship with His Son. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.” If you have not accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior then you cannot have Fellowship with God our Heavenly Father. And if you have already come unto a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ then you must take the time to get to know Him intimately.

Again, fellowship is sharing in common. It requires an “a partaker” or “partner”, to have communion with. The “partaker and the partner must have things in common with one another.

When we have Fellowship with God, we literally become a partaker and partner with God. We, by Christ Jesus, have all things in common with our Heavenly Father. We become a partaker of God’s very life, ETERNAL LIFE!